Trial by Fire

Draven sat cross-legged on his dorm room floor, staring at his hands. The memory of the black flames flickering at his fingertips burned in his mind.

> [ABILITY AWAKENED: HELLFIRE MANIPULATION (Lv. 1)]

Hellfire does not burn flesh—it burns the soul.

A demon's power… and now, it was his.

He flexed his fingers, trying to summon the flames again.

Nothing happened.

Tch.

He focused harder, recalling the feeling from the first time.

The raw surge of power. The unnatural heat that wasn't heat at all.

A faint glow flickered.

Then—

FWOOOM.

A small black flame danced above his palm. It made no sound. Cast no light. Yet, the air around it felt… wrong.

> [SYSTEM TIP: Hellfire is fueled by emotion. Stronger emotions create stronger flames.]

Emotion, huh?

Draven clenched his fists, the flame vanishing.

The military academy had beaten him down for years. He had been mocked, insulted, called weak.

But now—

They couldn't ignore him anymore.

A sharp knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

Ryce's voice came through. "Draven, get up. Training starts in ten."

Draven exhaled, pushing himself to his feet. Time to test his new power.

The training grounds were buzzing with activity. Groups of trainees sparred, instructors barked orders, and the scent of sweat and dust hung in the air.

Draven lined up with the rest of the recruits as Commander Veydris Kaelthorne stepped forward.

"Yesterday's combat trials revealed strengths and weaknesses. Some of you impressed me," Kaelthorne said, his eyes briefly flicking to Draven. "Others? Not so much."

A few trainees flinched.

"Today's focus is ability control. You will spar using your abilities," Kaelthorne continued. "No weapons. No enhancements. Just raw skill."

Draven's pulse quickened. This was it.

The moment to truly test Hellfire.

"Draven Xyros."

His name was called, and he stepped into the sparring ring.

His opponent followed.

A tall, lean trainee with short silver hair and piercing red eyes.

Nyra Veyne.

A prodigy. Top five in combat rankings. Her ability? Crimson Edge.

> [ABILITY: CRIMSON EDGE]

User's blood can harden into razor-sharp blades, increasing attack range and lethality.

Draven tensed. This wasn't going to be easy.

Nyra smirked, unsheathing a dagger of solidified blood from her palm. "Hope you're ready, newbie."

Kaelthorne raised his hand. "Begin!"

Nyra dashed forward.

Draven barely had time to react as she slashed toward him, her blade a blur.

CLANG!

Draven blocked—but felt the burn of a shallow cut along his arm.

She was fast. Too fast.

> [SYSTEM ALERT: Minor Injury Detected.]

Draven backstepped, trying to create distance. Think. Adapt. Use the system.

> [SYSTEM TIP: Try channeling Hellfire into an attack.]

He focused, summoning the black flames to his hands—

But Nyra didn't give him the chance.

She flicked her wrist, sending blood daggers flying.

THWIP! THWIP!

Draven dodged one, but another grazed his side.

Damn it.

Nyra didn't let up. She pressed the attack, forcing Draven onto the defensive.

"Tch. Is that all you've got?" she taunted.

Her next strike came in fast—aimed directly at his throat.

Draven had no choice.

He reached deep, pushing past the pain, the exhaustion, the doubt—

FWOOSH!

Hellfire exploded from his hands.

Nyra's eyes widened as the black flames surged, colliding with her blade.

The blood weapon melted instantly.

She jumped back, landing gracefully, her smirk gone. "What… was that?"

Draven exhaled, his body trembling slightly.

The flames had answered his call.

Kaelthorne's sharp voice cut through the air. "Enough."

The sparring session was over.

The trainees whispered among themselves.

Draven had just revealed something unnatural.

Something… dangerous.

Later that evening, Draven sat alone, still processing everything.

He had finally used Hellfire in combat. But something told him… he had only scratched the surface of its power.

The system chimed in.

> [QUEST UNLOCKED: EMBRACE YOUR DEMONIC NATURE]

Objective: Discover the true limits of your Hellfire.

Reward: New Ability Unlock.]

Before he could react, the door to his room swung open.

Zyrek Faeron stood there, arms crossed, eyes glinting with amusement.

"That power of yours," Zyrek said. "It's not normal."

Draven stayed silent.

Zyrek smirked. "I don't know what you are, but if you get in my way… I'll crush you."

Then he turned and walked away, leaving behind a single thought in Draven's mind.

He had just become a target.